The Coronavirus has taken the world by storm. It has only been a month since it was identified, and there are already hundreds of reported deaths. The origin of this virus was in China, and they have suffered the most number of reported deaths due to the virus. It was first identified in Wuhan in the Hubei Province of China. On the 7th of January, 2019, the Chinese government’s health authorities first confirmed that they have identified the wide-spreading virus in Wuhan. And within hours, the world was abuzz with the spreading of the virus.
Novel Coronavirus infection symptoms are at first, similar to other respiratory infections. People have a fever, coughing, and breathing problems. The difference is that this infection rapidly deteriorates and causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, pneumonia, kidney failure, and death.
The most alarming thing about this virus is that very little information is available. But from the limited information available, you all must be aware that this virus has an incubation period of 14 days. This means that for the first 14 days, a person will show no symptoms, but will be a carrier of the disease.
The government is already trying its best to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
However, it is important to resist the fear that surrounds contagious diseases. Corona is a deadly disease but there are some measures that you can take to avoid this pandemic disease. Most people will survive the infection. Mortality amongst hospital cases is around 3% and most fatalities were elderly or already unwell from some other cause. BEBEAFRIKANA presents to you how you can reduce the chance of being infected if it becomes epidemic in your locale.
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BUILD/BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM: I was discussing with my friend the state of the nation a couple of days ago. What I find alarming in most of the supermarket is the fact that the toilet rolls and other daily needs aisles are empty while the multi-vitamin segments are fully loaded. I know it’s very important to have these essential needs, however, boosting your immune system is a very important factor in surviving this period. The majority of the death recorderd are people with underlying health issues or low immune system. So this is the time to also stock up on multivitamins so as to boost your immune system.
WASH YOUR HANDS REGULARLY: Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with hot soapy water whenever you return home from any public place, after coughing or sneezing, after caring for the sick, before eating, after using the toilet, and after handling animals or animal waste. However, if you cannot wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 60% to 95% alcohol).
COVER YOUR MOUTH WHEN COUGHING OR SNEEZING: when coughing or sneezing, use an elbow sleeve to cover your mouth or use a tissue. Throw the tissue in a closed bin, and then wash your hands.
COVER YOUR FACE WITH A MASK: Cover your face with a mask when you are going to a crowded place or a hospital. If you are sitting in your home and doing nothing, no need of wearing a mask. However, if you are in any social gathering, wearing a mask may be a better idea.
AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE, AND MOUTH: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as you can pick up the virus that way. NEVER touch your face with your hands without washing them first. Especially after removing your mask, touching public objects or returning from a public place; wash your hands immediately or clean them with rubbing alcohol.
AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. It has been reported that the virus can spread within 6 feet, so keep at least that much distance between yourself and someone showing symptoms.
STAY HOME WHEN YOU’RE SICK: Stay home when you’re sick and don’t go out until you’ve been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
CLEAN AND DISINFECT FREQUENTLY TOUCHED OBJECTS AND SURFACES: Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects like doorknobs and countertops. Evidence suggests that disinfectants with 62% to 71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite (bleach) can “efficiently” inactivate coronaviruses within a minute, though it’s not yet known how the new coronavirus reacts to these products.
GET THE FLU SHOT: Get the flu shot if you haven’t already! Although the seasonal flu vaccine cannot protect you from COVID-19 directly, you may be more likely to develop severe pneumonia if you contract both diseases simultaneously. By avoiding the flu, you may also avoid making a trip to the doctor in the middle of a COVID-19 epidemic, when health care workers may be overwhelmed with other patients.
NEVER EAT UNDERCOOKED MEALS: NEVER eat undercooked meals especially meat. Let me remind you that it all started with people eating infected meat in Wuhan, Hubei province China. Also never eat the meat of a sick or dead (because of any disease) animal.
KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED: Keep yourself informed about the situation of Coronavirus in your locality. May be your town/locality has not been hit with the virus yet and you are panicking for nothing.
PRAY: Prayer is also very key during a crisis; we need to seek God’s protection and strength in times like these. As many of us face many uncertainties, it is critical to remember that there is no uncertainty in God. The virus may be all over the news, but even at its worst, you can be at peace in God. Trust in God can calm our worries. God created us and loves us more than we can imagine. He knows our doubts and fears and He cares about us. However, we need to give God our uncertainties and distress and feel secure in Him. Let Psalm 91 be your watchword this season and medidate on it day and night. This is a powerful bible scripture on protection from sicknesses, diseases, afflictions and many others.